| Independence Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Map of Independence Township in Warren County. Inset: Location of Warren County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Independence Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Warren |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Robert Giordano (2012) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.9 sq mi (51.5 km2) |
| • Land | 19.8 sq mi (51.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation[1] | 512 ft (156 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,662 |
| • Density | 286.0/sq mi (110.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07838 - Great Meadows |
| Area code(s) | 908 |
| FIPS code | 34-33930[2][3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882244[4] |
| Website | http://www.independencenj.com |
Independence Township is a Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 5,662. The township is part of the eastern region of the Lehigh Valley.
Independence Township was originally created from Hardwick Township, while the area was still part of Sussex County. Hardwick Township was incorporated as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Most of Independence Township became part of the newly-created Warren County on November 20, 1824, with the remainder becoming part of Green Township in Sussex County. Portions of the township were taken to form Hackettstown (March 9, 1853) and Allamuchy Township (April 4, 1873).[5]
Great Meadows-Vienna (2000 Census population of 1,264) is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Independence Township.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 19.9 square miles (52 km2), of which, 19.8 square miles (51 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.25%) is water.
| Hope Township | Frelinghuysen Twp | Allamuchy Twp | ||
| Liberty Twp | ||||
| Independence Twp | ||||
| Mansfield Twp | Hackettstown |
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 964 |
|
|
| 1940 | 1,046 | 8.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,169 | 11.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,509 | 29.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,057 | 36.3% | |
| 1980 | 2,829 | 37.5% | |
| 1990 | 3,940 | 39.3% | |
| 2000 | 5,603 | 42.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,662 | 1.1% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[6] | |||
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 5,603 people, 2,146 households, and 1,489 families residing in the township. The population density was 282.4 people per square mile (109.0/km²). There were 2,210 housing units at an average density of 111.4 per square mile (43.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.98% White, 1.16% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.77% of the population.
There were 2,146 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $67,247, and the median income for a family was $79,819. Males had a median income of $59,688 versus $37,643 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,555. About 1.2% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Independence Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[7] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.
The Independence Township Committee consists of Mayor Robert Giordano (R, term ends December 31, 2012), Deputy Mayor John Cummins (R, 2011), Bonnie Kelsey (R, 2013), Richard A. Wall (R, 2012) and Glenn Williams (R, 2013).[8][9]
Independence Township is in the 5th Congressional district. New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
Independence Township is in the 23rd Legislative District (New Jersey) of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Michael J. Doherty (R, Oxford Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by John DiMaio (R, Hackettstown) and Erik Peterson (R, Franklin Township).[10]
Warren County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders whose three members are elected at-large on a staggered basis with one seat coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Warren County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Everett A. Chamberlain (Belvidere, term ends December 31, 2012), Freeholder Deputy Director Richard D. Gardner (Asbury, 2011) and Freeholder Jason Sarnoski (Lopatcong Township, 2013).[11]
The Township of Independence was established by an act of the New Jersey Legislature in 1782. This occurred through the division of Hardwick Township which at that time made it a section of Sussex County. Next through another act of the State Legislature in 1825, it was one of the seven large southerly townships, formerly in Sussex County, which together comprised the area that became Warren County. As the seven townships gradually were subdivided, Independence was reduced to half its original size through the loss of Hackettstown in 1853 and Allamuchy Township in 1873. The population thereby decreased to around one thousand, having the boundaries that it has today. It is roughly eight miles long from the northwest to the southeast corners, about six miles (10 km) across its widest point and covers an area of 20.4 square miles (53 km2).
Through the Township the major brooks and the Great Meadows drain into the Pequest River which winds slowly from northeast to southwest to flow on through the County and eventually into the Delaware River at Belvidere. Part of the eastern land drains under the Morris Canal bed and south into the Musconetcong River just below the boundary with Mansfield Township. The hillsides are steep, layered with rock and limestone while the valleys still hold soil deposited here from the receding glaciers. Mastodon bones and a few relics of the early Indian dwellers still occasionally can be found as well as coveys of game birds, some while tail deer, and small game.
This area at first was settled and cleared as farmland for growing hay and grain or as pastureland. Here timber was cut for lumber, grain was milled into flour, and some iron ore was mined from the Jenny Jump Mountain area during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The mining of iron ore which attracted the early settlers, the later iron foundries, and many of the early industries have disappeared as has the Morris Canal and the railroads as the major means of shipping freight. After many attempts the Great Meadow was drained with the water channeled to permit successful development of commercial vegetable production. Shipping over the years has been by wagon, small trucks, rail freight, and then by large trailer trucks.
Public school students in grades K through 8 attend the Great Meadows Regional School District, together with students from Liberty Township.[12] Schools in the district (with 2008-09 school year enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics[13]) are Independence Central School (393 students in K-5), Liberty School (240 students in K-5) and Great Meadows Middle School (326 students in 6-8).
Students attending public school for grades 9-12 attend Hackettstown High School which serves students from Hackettstown, as well as students from the townships of Allamuchy, Independence and Liberty, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Hackettstown School District.[14]
Notable current and former residents of Independence Township include:
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